Sequestration could affect local airports

Updated 12:33 am, Sunday, March 3, 2013

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Here are 10 ways the federal sequester could affect you:

1. Longer lines at airline security

The Federal Aviation Administration is predicting waits of up to 90 minutes at airline security checkpoints. Major hubs such as New York, Houston, Atlanta and San Francisco are likely to be among the hardest-hit. less

Here are 10 ways the federal sequester could affect you:

1. Longer lines at airline security

The Federal Aviation Administration is predicting waits of up to 90 minutes at airline security checkpoints. Major hubs ... more

Photo: Andrew Bret Wallis, Getty Images

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2. Flight delays and cancellations

Don’t plan on getting where you want to on time. About 10 percent of air traffic controllers will be furloughed at any time, leading to longer waits on the runway — but not in a predictable pattern. Nineteen regional airports will lose their federal tower operations. less

2. Flight delays and cancellations

Don’t plan on getting where you want to on time. About 10 percent of air traffic controllers will be furloughed at any time, leading to longer waits on the runway — but not ... more

Photo: Wesley Hitt, Getty Images

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3. A disaster disaster

FEMA will lose $375 million from its disaster-relief budget. Texas and the rest of the Midwestern Tornado Alley can only hope for good weather this spring.

3. A disaster disaster

FEMA will lose $375 million from its disaster-relief budget. Texas and the rest of the Midwestern Tornado Alley can only hope for good weather this spring.

Photo: Willoughby Owen, Getty Images/Flickr RF

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4. Backed-up borders

The Department of Homeland Security warns of delays of four hours or more at U.S. ports of entry. You could be affected if your crossing the border from Mexico or Canada, taking a cruise, or arriving from an international flight. less

4. Backed-up borders

The Department of Homeland Security warns of delays of four hours or more at U.S. ports of entry. You could be affected if your crossing the border from Mexico or Canada, taking a cruise, or ... more

Photo: John Moore, Getty Images

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5. Pain down the Pentagon supply chain

Defense-dependent states such as Virginia, Texas and Connecticut will be particularly hard-hit. In Virginia, for example, 90,000 civilian Defense Department workers could be furloughed. In Texas, that number is 52,000 — costing employees an estimated $274.8 million in lost pay. Modernization, maintenance and demolition projects at military facilities could be put on hold or canceled — an estimated $233 million in Texas Army spending alone. The Navy plans to reduce procurement of the Joint Strike Fighter and cancel Blue Angels Shows in Corpus Christi and Fort Worth. Some defense contractors already are laying off workers because of coming cuts in Pentagon outlays. less

5. Pain down the Pentagon supply chain

Defense-dependent states such as Virginia, Texas and Connecticut will be particularly hard-hit. In Virginia, for example, 90,000 civilian Defense Department workers could ... more

Photo: U.S. Navy, Getty Images

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6. Delays in receiving international shipments

If you’re waiting for that delivery from overseas — or if your company depends on imported parts or material — you’ll just have to wait longer. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano predicts that imported goods will be delayed at U.S. ports because of required furloughs. “When you slow down the inspection of containers by up to five days … that translates into lots and lots of jobs, good paying jobs, and those are going to be impacted,” she said. less

6. Delays in receiving international shipments

If you’re waiting for that delivery from overseas — or if your company depends on imported parts or material — you’ll just have to wait longer. Homeland ... more

Photo: Thierry Dosogne, Getty Images

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7. Spot shortages of meat

The administration has announced plans to furlough 2,100 food inspectors. That could lead to delays in inspecting meat, producing spot shortages over time and increasing the chance of food-borne illness. less

7. Spot shortages of meat

The administration has announced plans to furlough 2,100 food inspectors. That could lead to delays in inspecting meat, producing spot shortages over time and increasing the chance of ... more

Photo: Vito Palmisano, Getty Images

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8. Financial aid cuts

Primary and second schools will feel the pinch with reductions in Head Start and special education funding. But the greatest education-related impact will be felt by university students in need of financial aid. Federal work-study programs will be whacked, and low-income students could lose more than $300 from their Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants. Other students will face higher loan-origination fees the next time they secure a loan. less

8. Financial aid cuts

Primary and second schools will feel the pinch with reductions in Head Start and special education funding. But the greatest education-related impact will be felt by university students in ... more

Photo: Peter Glass, Getty Images

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9. Mental illness funding cuts

Social programs from pre-school to health-care stand to lose 10 percent of more of their federal funding. That will force states and localities to either increase their contributions or face service cuts. One example: 373,000 mentally ill adults and children would be required to go without treatment if states don’t step in to replace lost federal revenues. less

9. Mental illness funding cuts

Social programs from pre-school to health-care stand to lose 10 percent of more of their federal funding. That will force states and localities to either increase their ... more

Photo: Aurumarcus, Getty Images/Vetta

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10. Disrupted vacations

This would not be the best year to take a spring break at a National Park or other federal recreational facility. With $110 million in cuts coming to the National Parks Service, reduced services and spot closures expected. Make sure to plan ahead and check ahead before you leave for vacation. less

10. Disrupted vacations

This would not be the best year to take a spring break at a National Park or other federal recreational facility. With $110 million in cuts coming to the National Parks Service, reduced ... more

Photo: Jacom Stephens, Getty Images

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The Joint Base San Antonio system, which includes Fort Sam Houston, has 20,000 civilian workers who could be furloughed when the federal budget sequester begins Friday. Fort Sam is facing a $26 million reduction. The sequester calls for $2.4 billion in reductions affecting 34,734 jobs at Army installations alone — the most of any state.

Here are some of the services and budget amounts the White House says Texas could lose this year if the sequester goes into effect. less

The Joint Base San Antonio system, which includes Fort Sam Houston, has 20,000 civilian workers who could be furloughed when the federal budget sequester begins Friday. Fort Sam is facing a $26 million ... more

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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Education: $67.8 million for primary and secondary education, potentially affecting the jobs of 930 teachers and aides. About $51 million for Education for Children with Disabilities.

Education: $67.8 million for primary and secondary education, potentially affecting the jobs of 930 teachers and aides. About $51 million for Education for Children with Disabilities.

Photo: JERRY LARA, San Antonio Express-News

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College aid: Around 4,720 fewer low-income students would receive college aid, and around 1,450 fewer students will get work-study jobs.

College aid: Around 4,720 fewer low-income students would receive college aid, and around 1,450 fewer students will get work-study jobs.

Photo: Lisa Krantz, San Antonio Express-News

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Head Start: Services would be eliminated for about 4,800 children.

Head Start: Services would be eliminated for about 4,800 children.

Photo: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

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Environment: $8,467,000 for clean water and air quality, along with prevention of pollution from pesticides and hazardous waste. $2,235,000 in grants for fish and wildlife protection.

Environment: $8,467,000 for clean water and air quality, along with prevention of pollution from pesticides and hazardous waste. $2,235,000 in grants for fish and wildlife protection.

Public health: $2,402,000 to help upgrade the ability to respond to public health threats, including infectious diseases and natural disasters. $6,750,000 in grants to help prevent and treat substance abuse. $1,146,000 for HIV tests. less

Public health: $2,402,000 to help upgrade the ability to respond to public health threats, including infectious diseases and natural disasters. $6,750,000 in grants to help prevent and treat substance abuse. ... more

Photo: Alex Washburn

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STOP Violence Against Women program: Up to $543,000 for services to victims of domestic violence.

STOP Violence Against Women program: Up to $543,000 for services to victims of domestic violence.

Photo: Lisa Krantz/lkrantz@express-news.net

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Nutrition assistance for Seniors: $3,557,000 to provide meals for seniors.

Nutrition assistance for Seniors: $3,557,000 to provide meals for seniors.

Photo: Photo Courtesy Of Jerry Arellano/Meals On Wheels

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Sequestration could affect local airports

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San Antonio air travelers planning a Spring Break getaway this month can sit back, relax and enjoy the flight — you likely won't feel sequestration's effect.

But come April, the consequences of the federal across-the-board spending cuts — including furloughed air traffic controllers and security employees — could mean delays for passengers.

The cuts also could result in the closure of 100 air traffic control facilities, including the towers at Stinson Municipal Airport and the New Braunfels and San Marcos airports.

The Federal Aviation Administration has said employees will be furloughed one day every two-week pay period. That's equivalent to roughly 10 percent of the FAA workforce on any given day.

The Transportation Security Administration, which handles security at airports, plans to impose a hiring freeze. According to a TSA statement, the agency expects wait times at large airports to double during busy travel periods.

But those reductions might not cause huge problems in San Antonio, said Tim O'Krongley, assistant aviation director at International Airport. The main airport tower probably would limit training flights first, to free up air traffic controllers to direct incoming and outgoing commercial planes.

More San Antonio flights are bound for airports in those two cities than anywhere else in the country.

“If they (the other airports) are affected in a different way, that just trickles down to all the airports,” O'Krongley said.

Air traffic controllers work in tandem with controllers at towers in other cities, so employee reductions in one place will affect traffic in the other, said Dylan Hodgson, an air traffic controller at Houston Terminal Radar Approach Control and a NATCA facility representative.

“Somewhere on the line, there's going to be a pinch,” said Hodgson, adding that controllers will have to allot more space between flights to account for the reduced manpower. “You can't stop an airplane in midair.”

Unlike the international airport, whose air traffic controllers are all federal employees, a private contract company called RVA runs the Stinson control tower.

Last year, there were about 109,000 flight operations — takeoffs and landings — at that airport, O'Krongley said.

Sequestration means Stinson would become an uncontrolled tower in April. That's common at smaller, general aviation airports, many of which don't have a tower at all, O'Krongley said. As it is, Stinson does not have air traffic controllers on duty at night.

An air traffic controller who answered the phone at the Stinson tower Friday morning said RVA's employees still hadn't received official word about the furloughs.

“We're just waiting to hear,” he said, declining to give his name.

The FAA said Friday that furlough letters will go out to workers in the coming days. vdavila@express-news.net